HI HB2696

Appropriates funds from general revenues for fiscal year 2020-2021 to establish an experimental modernization project addressing pay compression issues among Hawaii's teachers, with the project providing for automatic annual salary increases.

Identifies that approximately 7,000 teachers have base salaries not reflecting their years of professional service due to pay compression and inequity in the existing teacher salary schedules.

Notes that Hawaii's teacher salaries are the lowest in the nation when adjusted for cost of living, contributing to chronic teacher shortages of 1,029 positions in 2018-2019 and 973 positions in 2019-2020.

Establishes that the experimental modernization project shall be conducted pursuant to section 78-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, with funds to be expended by the Department of Education.

Takes effect on July 1, 2020.